Srinagar, July 7 -- Chief priest of Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Monday called the government's decision to ban books "harsh". Mirwaiz, in a media interaction in Srinagar, said the government's decision to ban books was harsh. "It is a very harsh decision and then suspending some 8 officials. Kashmir's history didn't start in 2019 but it has a history of 5,000 years," he said. On Saturday, eight officials of the School Education Department were suspended over allegations that two textbooks distributed in government school libraries "glorified" separatist leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. The books were withdrawn after sharp reactions from many political parties, and the police filed an FIR under UAPA. Mirwaiz was the chairman of his faction of Hurriyat Conference before he dropped the title in his public communications including on X, in December 2025 calling it a "Hobson's choice" owing to alleged pressure from authorities. Mirwaiz said Kashmiris are proud of their civilisational legacy, from the Buddhist period to Shaivism and Hindu traditions, and then the Islamic period, which shaped Kashmir's spiritual, social and cultural identity. He said that after 1947, Jammu and Kashmir also became a political issue, and this too is part of its modern history. "You cannot erase history or selectively project only that part of history which suits a particular narrative," Mirwaiz said, adding that societies grow through openness, discussion and engagement, not by suppressing books or silencing perspectives. "And facts remain facts". Taking exception to the BJP's allegation of calling it "academic jihad", Mirwaiz said, "It is surprising that everything is named 'jihad'. Sometimes BJP people talk about 'love jihad', 'land jihad' and now 'academic jihad'. It is unfortunate," he said....